A-Rod reportedly meets with MLB investigators

NEW YORK -- Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez met with Major League Baseball officials on Friday to discuss his alleged connections to the defunct South Florida Biogenesis anti-aging clinic, according to The Associated Press.

A-Rod's meeting with officials investigating the distribution of banned performance-enhancing drugs took place at an undisclosed location in Tampa, Fla., according to the AP.

The meeting took place before Rodriguez's scheduled Minor League rehabilitation game for the Class A Tampa Yankees was rained out. It is not known if Rodriguez answered the investigators' questions or what his level of cooperation was in the meeting.

Records from the Coral Gables, Fla., clinic were published in January by the Miami New Times and are said to detail interactions with Rodriguez from 2009-12.

Through his representatives, Rodriguez has denied any connections to Bosch or the clinic. The three-time American League MVP is targeting a July 22 return to the big leagues, when the Yankees are scheduled to play against the Rangers in Arlington.

The AP reported that Rodriguez was not at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa when Friday's game against Bradenton was rained out, and that Rodriguez did not take part in pregame batting practice with the Minor League players.

Because of forecasted weather issues in Florida, the Yankees are considering promoting Rodriguez to Double-A Trenton or Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this weekend. It is expected that the Yankees will announce Rodriguez's weekend plans on Saturday.

Rodriguez is returning from left hip surgery performed during the offseason. He has struggled to find his timing at the plate, faring 2-for-15 (.133) with one RBI in six Minor League games for Tampa and Class A Charleston.